We are in need of a family for a very special baby girl that is due to be born around July 4th. Her birth mom is a sweet, brave young lady who has chosen to give her baby life despite the recommendations of some in the medical profession. She has chosen to give her baby life with great hopes that there will be a family that desires to adopt this precious baby girl, and that this family will also be prepared to meet all the baby's medical needs and lifelong challenges. Please consider whether God would have you open your hearts and your home to this baby girl.
The baby will be born in San Diego, California. She is at least partially Hispanic. The birth mom has had a very healthy pregnancy and has cared for herself very well. The baby is currently at about twenty-four weeks gestation; the potential problems predicted for her, based on several ultrasounds, are as follows:
- deformities of both hands and both feet, with likely clubbing of both feet and one hand
- small jaw and chin
- underdeveloped stomach
- hydrocephalus and underdeveloped brain
- there are also some key elements of fetal brain development that are missing or not able to be visualized at this point
- her neck appears to be fixed in a hyperextended position
As you can tell, this child's disabilities could be severe. She is probably facing surgeries for her hydrocephalus and skeletal deformities and will probably have some level of impaired cognition (intellectual ability) and brain development. The doctors are not sure how her small stomach growth will affect her feeding ability.
The birth mom has expressed her desire to place the baby with a Christian, two-parent family. She would like some level of communication and openness as the baby grows so she can be kept up to date on the baby's progress.
Any family that comes forward for this baby must keep two things in mind: first, be hopeful that the child's prognosis will be better than the doctors have predicted; second, be prepared to parent a child who may have severe lifelong disabilities. There will be many more ultrasounds and consultationswith specialists, so the baby's diagnoses may become clearer as the pregnancy progresses; but we are hopeful that we will find a family willing to commit to adopting this little girl now, regardless of whether future ultrasounds indicate that her condition is likely to be better or worse than we believe it to be now.
The adoption will be handled as a private, independent placement. Costs would include the attorney fees in California, as well attorney fees in the adoptive family's state. There may also be some additional costs for counseling to the birth mom. The exact fees have not yet been worked out, but there is no agency fee involved and everyone is doing their best to keep costs to a minimum. Potential adoptive families should be ready to move forward with the adoption regardless of whether or not the baby will qualify for any state assistance or SSI (Supplemental Security Income, provided through the Social Security Administration). Possibilities for this type of
assistance and funding will need to be pursued by the adoptive family.
If you are interested in being considered for this precious child, please send a biographical information letter about your family, and a recent family picture. Families need not have a completed home study at this point,
but must to be able to complete one well before the baby's due date.
To request more information, or to send your family's biographical sketch to be presented to the birth mom, write to: july-baby@theshepherdscrook.org. And please join us in praying for this birth mom and for her special
baby that the pregnancy will proceed safely, and that an adoptive family will be found quickly.
In Him,
Alison Weibert, RN
TSC Medical Ministries Coordinator
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